Sikh Genocide 1984: 33 Years On, Survivors From Pataudi Seek Relief

Chandigarh: Around 33 years after Sikh genocide of November 1984, a handful of Sikh families from Gurgaon have for the first time approached the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking compensation for the deaths and destruction they suffered.

A Charred remains of a Sikh colony in the aftermath of Sikh Genocide of November 1984 [File Photo]

Most of them were living in Pataudi town at the time of the killings and have justified their delayed claim by stating that they had no clue about claims commissions being set up. Taking cognizance of the petition, the court has put the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the Haryana government on notice, media reports said.

As reported by the media sources the case reached the Pb & Hry high court in the wake of a petition filed by seven people who now live in Faridabad, New Delhi, Mohali and Nabha in Punjab. It is further stated that Four of the petitioners – Paramjit Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Jasbir Kaur, and Upkar Kaur – had lost their father Harjap Singh in the anti-Sikh violence and an FIR was registered in Gurgaon on November 2, 1984. Another petitioner, Harnam Kaur, had lost two of her grown-up daughters and son Gurbax Singh. She had registered an FIR at the police station in Pataudi.

Additionally, petitioner also includes Harpreet Kaur who was just one when her father Gurbax Singh was killed by a mob while Shanti Devi lost her husband Surjit Singh and son Gurmakh Singh.

In general all of them had lost houses in shops in the violence. They have sought Rs 15 lakh each for being the legal heirs of those who were lynched by mobs and another Rs 5 lakh each for the damage to their properties. The petitioners have also submitted that they want compensation according to recommendations of the Justice T P Garg commission in relation to the claims of those killed in Hondh-Chillar village of Rewari in 1984, reads a quote from a report published in an English vernacular.

Besides MHA and the Haryana government, Justice R K Jain of the HC has also asked the deputy commissioner of Gurgaon and the special secretary, office of rehabilitation cum chief settlement commissioner, Haryana, to respond by March 23, notes Times of Indian (ToI) in its report.